No ground lost: Rockets' defeat means nada

By MIKE KILROY Eagle Staff Writer

May 11, 2004 Last Updated: January 06, 2005 12:14 PM High School

SLIPPERY ROCK - Five pitchers, 13 runs, 20 hits surrendered and a loss later, coach Cory Hake was all smiles.

Even though his Slippery Rock High School baseball team had lost to Franklin at Jack Critchfield Park Monday night 13-3, the game meant nothing in the grand scheme of things.

The scheme of things? Win the next four games, get to the playoffs.

"This isn't a loss we're going to think about a whole lot," Hake said. "Whether we lose by one or lose by 10, it didn't mean anything to us. And you can see it in the dugout."

Slippery Rock's playoff hopes hinge on the next four games. The Rockets play Sharon twice, Reynolds at home Wednesday and Mercer on the road.

The Rockets have to win all four games to reach the playoffs, although three wins and some help might accomplish the same trick.

"With a week to go, we're right were we want to be," Hake said. "There are a couple of games I wish we could have back, but there were a couple of games we won that maybe we shouldn't have. We control our own destiny."

For that destiny to be a good one, the Rockets will have to find a way to get their next four opponents out consistently.

Slippery Rock (6-9) didn't do that against Franklin, which hit the ball hard and often.

With the game tied at 2, Franklin (11-3) scored six times in the top of the third, chasing Slippery Rock starter Mark Doerr from the game and starting the parade of pitchers for the Rockets.

Tom DeCola relieved Doerr, struck out Franklin's Richy Cerro twice after the umpire ruled a foul tip on strike three the first time actually hit the ground and eventually got out of the inning.

Slippery Rock also used Bill Dillon, Ryan Hays and Dave McCune on the mound.

Only Hays didn't give up a run.

"We've been hitting like this most of the year," said Franklin coach Harry Miller.

Leadoff hitter Brian Schmidt and No. 2 hitter Zack Sterner each had four hits and Mark Shoney hit a two-run home run to get the onslaught started in the third inning for Franklin.

Andrew Riddle also had three doubles.

Billy Messer hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning for Slippery Rock. It was the Rockets only earned run.

Franklin used three pitchers. Chris Miller started and pitched four strong innings before yielding to Dusty McElhatten and Schmidt, who pitched a scoreless seventh inning.

"We have a lot of pitching depth," Harry Miller said. "It's nice when you can go to your fourth, fifth starter and get four good innings out of him."

Slippery Rock is trying to get to the playoffs with freshmen and sophomores filling six of its nine starting positions.

Hays' status is uncertain because of a finger injury suffered while sliding into third base on a steal attempt.

Hays, a freshman, also plays centerfield.

"I'm more concerned about that than the loss," Hake said.

But Slippery Rock has been through adversity before this season.

"If nothing else, we've been very resilient," Hake said.

Franklin 116 040 1 -13 20 3

Slippery Rock 110 010 0 - 3 5 2

WP:

Chris Miller (4 IP) 2 strikeouts, 2 walks.

LP: